Those unruly prepositions…

[Tamara]

Hi

In my first language (Russian) there are 7 cases playing crucial part in gluing words. (Together with nouns' and adjectives' case endings).
Even though prepositions are also in use.

In English prepositions take on the most of the burden. As all we know :)

To me, most of the (English prepositions') uses - thank goodness! - are quite natural and cause no serious problems for me.
But, in contrast, there are some that are very unnatural…

I can list them, giving my natural (wrong) tends in brackets:

happen to me (happen with me would sound 'much more natural' to me)
think of (think about. Happily, it's not 'wrong' use :). Just not think 'of'...)
hear of smth (hear about OR just hear smth.)
have been to [Paris] (have been in)
angry with smb (angry on)
agree to (agree with or agree on )
ask for (ask of)
laugh at (laugh… hmm… over/about/?)
leave for (leave to)
listen to (listen of)
look at (look on)
fond of (just fond)
be proud of (be proud by)
be rich in (be rich by)
take care of (take care about)
object to (object against)
start for (start to or start in)
put an end to (put an end for)
wait for (wait of)
be pleased with (be pleased by)
be sure of (be sure in)
…

I learnt them and use correctly in writing – mostly :) – but each time when I need to speak quickly and without thinking… yes, I 'speak' just in my native language…

I’d be interested in :) your opinion on the above (which ‘version’ sounds more natural to you :)).
Just to understand, how unique I am in my preposition-problems :) :lol:
Also would be glad if you add some your troubles with English prepositions (from the point of your language ):)
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It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…

[M_Murdock]

Hi Tamara,

I'm from Brazil and my first language is portuguese. I'm a beginner in English, but I've tried my luck in English too.

I've problems with this sentence...CLOSE TO....It's a simple sentence but in Brazil, the correct way to use this sentence is "Close from". (totally wrong in English)

Every time that I need to use this simple sentence, I made a mistake.

Daniel.

[Tamara]

Hi Daniel!

Thank you for your response. So, I’m not that special (unique) as I thought of myself. :)

'Close from' is interesting. Different representation in mind, I mean. Another basic (philosophical? :) ) point to look at the same thing

Just out of curiosity – ‘close from’, OK :), but what preposition do you naturally use with ‘far’?
Far from Heavens? Far to Heavens?
:)
_________________
It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…

[M_Murdock]

Tamara,

In portuguese if I need to use "Far", I use this way:

"Far from something"

Close from and Far from....nice isn't ????

Bye

[Pamela]

Hi Tamara
Just in addition to what you have said
At first ‘have been to” always sounded strange, unusual to me
My teachers at school always tried to correct me when I used to say “in” but now I am well of aware of the correct usage of such type of constructions.

[Tamara]

Hi Pamela
I wish that one day you could say: "I've been to London. And Paris. And Rome. And Damascus. And Madrid. And Salzburg. And... ... ... "
:)
_________________
It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…

[Pamela]

Many thanks for your warm wishes, Tamara! :wink: At the moment I'm downloading photos of Munich taken by my sister. They are fantastic! :D

[Spencer]

Hi Tamara,
You're right, that's what English should look like!
Almost everything you mentioned are the same in Hungarian,and our mother languages aren't that similar, are they? Been to, it just doesn't make sence!
By the way, I use the "agree with" day by day. Not every day, but sometimes. I think I used it once. Anyway, are you sure it's not proper?
Spencer

[Yankee]

Hi Tamara

I think you ought to chop your list up into smaller chunks, start a new thread with each chunk, and give us sentences in which you think you tend to use the verbs and prepositions incorrectly. Some of your list doesn't look wrong to me, but it would be easier to comment on smaller pieces (with accompanying examples).

Amy

PS

Hi Spencer! What's new in your neck of the woods?
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"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Spencer]

Hi Amy,
Thanks for the question, I'm alright, everything looks pretty normal around my neck of my wood :) I'm still the best cook in Europe, so nothing has changed.:)
Amy, how's it going with you? The only thing I heard about you is your gift from the creator. Whatever I do with my headmuscles my ears stay put, unless I'm nodding, or shaking my whole head but I doubt it would count.
Spencer

[Englishuser]

Hello everyone,

I agree with you: prepostions can be quite tricky. How did you learn to use them correctly? Did you swot wordlists with common prepositional expressions?

Englishuser

[Tamara]

Hi spencer :)

Happy to see you here and glad to hear of your preposition problem. :) Even so tiny :)

[Prezbucky]

M_Murdock

What is it in Portuguese... "cerca de"?
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Billie Jean is not my lover. Hee.